“Unimaginable Sorrow”: Family Opens Up About Tragic Drowning Deaths of Mother & Two Children
Image: Hazel (5) and Mitchell (7) Nguyen beside image of map where their bodies were recovered, alongside their mother Hoai Doan Nguyen
Investigators are looking into the possibility of a murder-suicide in connection with a tragic incident that resulted in the drowning of a mother and her two children in Sydney’s southwest over the weekend.
The bodies of seven-year-old Mitchell Nguyen, five-year-old Hazel Nguyen, and their mother, 32-year-old Hoai Doan, were recovered from the Georges River in Lansvale, Sydney’s southwest, on Saturday.
Initially considered a tragic drowning, investigators now suspect the incident may have been a murder-suicide.
On Monday, the children’s father and Hoai’s husband Dinh Nguyen arrived at the scene of the tragedy to lay flowers in memory of his family.
Dinh Nguyen shared with the Sydney Morning Herald that while his wife had been on medication, she was reportedly in good spirits in the days leading up to the incident.
“She has bipolar disorder, and she has some ups and some downs. She takes medicine. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” Dinh told SMH.
Distress Calls Prompt Emergency Response
Witnesses saw the family in distress and alerted emergency services around 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, as reported by 7 News.
Despite the efforts of rescuers and bystanders, Hoai Doan’s body was recovered from the river and could not be revived. The bodies of her two children were found several hours later.
While police initially stated they were unsure what caused the mother and her children to end up in the water, sources said the investigations had led them to believe the incident may have been premeditated.
Bystanders also reported that they were attacked while attempting to assist the children during the crisis.
The heartbreaking tragedy has deeply impacted the local Vietnamese community, where the well-known Nguyen family was beloved. News spread quickly, leaving many in shock.
Dinh also shared that Hoai, who was not employed, often accompanied him on his handyman jobs. She joined him on Friday but declined his invitation to come along on Saturday, according to the SMH.
“She told me the last night she didn’t sleep so she wanted to stay at home,”he said.
Local Community Unites for GoFundMe Campaign
A GoFundMe campaign, organised by family friend Sarah Vu, raised over $20,000 within the first 24 hours. A portion of the contributions will be aimed at bringing the bodies of Mitchell and Hazel back to Vietnam for burial.
In her campaign message, Vu writes:
Hello everyone, my name is Sarah. I am reaching out to you during a time of unimaginable sorrow. A beloved mother and her two young children tragically drowned today im Lansvale leaving behind a profound void in our hearts and a father and baby who is only 1 years old.
I am fundraising on behalf of Hoai(32), Mitchell (7) and Hazel (5) and Macario(1). We hope to raise funds to aid the funeral and to assist the father to look after young Macario in this time of grief.
Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference. Thank you so much!”
Vietnamese Translation
Xin chào mọi người, em tên là Sarah. Em đang liên hệ với mọi người trong thời gian đau buồn không thể tưởng tượng nổi. Một người mẹ đáng yêu và hai đứa con nhỏ của cô ấy đã bị đuối nước một cách bi thảm hôm nay ở Lansvale, để lại một người cha và em bé chỉ mới 1 tuổi.
Em đang gây quỹ thay mặt cho Hoài (32 tuổi), Mitchell (7 tuổi), Hazel (5 tuổi) và Macario (1). Chúng tôi hy vọng quyên góp được tiền để hỗ trợ chi phí tang lễ và cũng như giúp đỡ người cha trong việc chăm sóc bé Macario trong thời gian đau thương này.
Mỗi đóng góp, dù nhỏ bé thế nào, cũng sẽ tạo ra sự khác biệt lớn. Cảm ơn các bạn rất nhiều!
To date, the GoFundMe campaign has received over 1,100 donations, surpassing its initial goal of $40,000. The total amount raised is now approaching $61,000.
The couple’s third child, one-year-old Macario, has been living with his grandparents in Vietnam, and Dinh stays in regular contact with him through FaceTime.
Nguyen Family to Return to Vietnam
In the wake of the tragedy, Vu thanked the community for their contributions, stating, “The family have decided to bring Hoai and the kids back to Vietnam.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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